Pierce Atwood Trusts & Estates Practice Group in Maine Top-Ranked in 2019 Chambers High Net Worth Guide

Pierce Atwood’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group in Maine has once again received a “Band 1” ranking – the highest available – for Private Wealth Law by Chambers and Partners, a prominent London-based publisher of guides to the legal profession.

With offices across New England and beyond, the firm received praise for its regional focus. "They're just a terrific organization," says an interviewee. "The fact they operate in Boston and across other states is great. We need heavy lifting and they provide it."

One Chambers contributor noted, "They're an excellent firm and obviously a powerhouse in the state of Maine," adding, "it's high-quality work with top talent." Another market expert stated, "I think the firm is operating at a top level. I wouldn't hesitate to send someone over there if they needed sophisticated planning."

Pierce Atwood has received this top ranking since Chambers debuted its High Net Worth inaugural edition in 2016. Recognized individually with Band 1 rankings were partners Molly Liddell and Barbara Wheaton in Maine, and Cindy Worthen in New Hampshire.

Molly Liddell, Trusts & Estate Practice Group Chair, was recognized for her work advising clients on complex estate planning and administration. One source stated, “She’s the head of the practice and has been involved in some of the most complicated trust and estate issues with clients.” Another Chambers interviewee added that she is “a go-to person if it’s tough and complicated in a large-scale way. She has a very particular set of skills that set her apart from a lot of other attorneys in the state of Maine.”

Barbara Wheaton, who works with clients in Maine and Florida, was recognized for her trust and estates practice, with a particular expertise in family foundations, charitable organizations, and contested estates. One out-of-state attorney stated, “"She's one of, if not the best trust and estates lawyer in Maine," adding, "Barbara's done some of the most complicated trust and estate work I've come across. She's got an intensity but is kind and soft in the way that she works with you. She is way ahead of you mentally, often two steps ahead thinking about things, but she's so nice about it. She's the rare combination of brilliance and kindness." Another interviewee says: "She's perhaps one of the finest lawyers on an intellectual and judgement basis. You can always count on Barbara."

Cindy Worthen assists clients with a broad range of private client matters. "She has got a terrific rapport with clients," says a source; "Cindy understands the psychology of clients as they contemplate the distribution of wealth during life and death." An impressed adviser says: "Just knowing the content is one thing, but being able to hand-hold and walk the client through difficult times and make sure they stick to the plan is an art not a science, and she does that extremely well."

The Chambers High Net Worth guide, launched in June 2016, covers private wealth management work and related specialties in key jurisdictions around the world, featuring in-depth editorial about the leading lawyers and law firms for wealthy individuals and families.